Celebrate Employee Engagement with These 13 Special Dates in 2025

HR teams have a lot on their plates, and building connections while supporting a thriving company culture can feel like a tall order. Adding these 13 lesser-known holidays to your calendar is a simple, affordable way to show appreciation, highlight shared values, and boost employee engagement year-round.

Bonus: we'll also include some easy ways to celebrate these HR dates, no matter what your budget for employee engagement.?

#1 National Fun at Work Day: January 31

Kick off the year with a little fun. Celebrate this day with team-building activities or quirky company swag. Giftbit’s own team celebrated renewed SOC 2 compliance by sending branded socks—creative and on point!

#2 Random Acts of Kindness Day: February 17

Encourage employees to perform and share acts of kindness. Set up a “kindness board” to recognize thoughtful actions, or send digital gift cards to team members who go above and beyond.

#3 Employee Appreciation Day: March 7

Recognize the contributions of your team with thank-you notes, gift cards, or even a team lunch. Small gestures like extra PTO or public shoutouts can go a long way in showing appreciation.

#4 International Women’s Day: March 8

Celebrate women’s contributions by hosting discussions on equal pay or career advancement, or by sharing resources that support their success. This day is a great way to show commitment to workplace equality.

#5 Mental Health Awareness Month: May

Support employee well-being by organizing workshops or promoting mental health days. Share resources that encourage self-care, like stress-management tools or reminders about counseling benefits.

#6 International Day of Happiness: March 20

Celebrate happiness and well-being with gratitude exercises or a team pizza party. Send digital pizza gift cards for a virtual lunch to spread joy across your workforce.??????

#7 International Pride Month: June

Foster inclusivity by hosting panel discussions or sharing educational resources. Visible signs of support, like Pride-themed decor or updated policies, show that inclusivity is more than just a buzzword.

#8 International Self-Care Day: July 24

Highlight the importance of rest and recovery with spa gift cards or resources like home improvement and book store cards. Offering employees their choice of a gift ensures self-care feels personal.

#9 National Wellness Month: August

Organize a wellness campaign and reward participants for their efforts. Like Giftbit CEO Leif Baradoy says, “Work should support the fullness of our lives.” Take this time to promote that balance.

#10 National Work-From-Home Week: October 1-7

Celebrate remote work with shared virtual lunches using DoorDash gift cards or coffee cards before meetings. This supports the flexibility that helps attract and retain top talent.

#11 World Mental Health Day: October 10

Share stress-management tips and remind employees of available wellness resources. Host a mindfulness session or webinar to encourage open conversations about mental well-being.

#12 National Gratitude Month: November

Show appreciation throughout the month with surprise digital gift cards, catered lunches, or heartfelt thank-you emails. Gratitude is a simple but impactful way to build morale.

#13 Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day: December 4

Recognize teamwork and milestones by sending gift cards or offering a perk like leaving early on a Friday. This day is also perfect for celebrating team wins.

An Easy Way to Reward Employees Year-Round

Celebrations are a great opportunity to show your team how much you value them. Using a gift card distributor like Giftbit makes it easy and affordable to send digital rewards—whether for planned events or last-minute surprises.

Send personalized rewards through email or shareable links, set up bulk orders, or schedule deliveries in advance. With options like coffee cards for remote meetings or spa-themed gifts for self-care, digital rewards ensure employees get something they’ll truly enjoy.

Incorporating these celebrations into your HR calendar doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little planning, you can create a culture of recognition all year long.

For even more tips and tricks for celebrating these HR days, see our complete guide here: 13 Special Days Every HR Team?Should Have In Their HR Calendar

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